Thread: What’s the best leather for a razor strop?

Everyone is enamored with real shell. Let's face it. It is sweet to strop on. Soft and supple. Nice draw!
It's also somewhat rare and expensive.

Then we get to actual effectiveness. Some others are stiffer, coarser, slicker.
As far as effectiveness goes, bridle, pigskin, horsehide, boarhide, even cowhide are every bit as effective in quality hides, IMO.

Rezdog mentions zippy secondarys.
I also think a zippy secondary fabric feels rough, but it is also very effective.

People like what feels good and costs a lot.
But they are not always more effective, JMHO.

I prefer my Shell strop, but enjoy my Buffalo from SRD as well as my Boar hide from Sharpton. I'm not going to knock the Roo strop either. I have one for my Lipshaw, and like it so much I have a custom one ordered.

Different strokes for different folks, and I agree on the zippy secondary's.
But after a while they do break in.

Originally Posted by Gasman

I find that i like the English Bridle and Buffalo the best. Now different makes might not feel the same, but going with SRD these are my picks. Good luck.

Correction, the EB isnt an SRD strop. Still one of my fav's.

You hit the nail on the head with that short bit of insight (shown in Bold above). I have the SRD English Bridle and the Neil Miller English Bridle and the feel while stropping is as different as Black and White/Night and Day.

Which do I prefer? I don't have a preference, so I use both.

Originally Posted by Dieseld

I prefer my Shell strop

What shell strop do you have?

I have my Kanayama, Shell Cordovan

Originally Posted by Dieseld

I have my Kanayama, Shell Cordovan

Assuming a newer-production. Are they actual shell cordovan?
I have thought they are cowhide or horsehide, with his special treatment. He has a way!
At least in recent times?

Reedumacate me!

Well, I can say, at aframestokyo it still claims that they are made of horse hide.

And honestly, I personally have never felt a leather that is like this. But the word Cordovan means horse hide.
So it seems I was mistaken in using the word shell before it. As it is most likely hide and not the second layer under it

I've tried many different hides and have to say that horsehide is tops. However, on really hard steel razors, my Illinois 127 with about 25 yrs worth of seasoning on it can't be beat.

My choices are horse shell, roo, bridle. Neil Miller could put together one heck of a strop.

Originally Posted by Dieseld

Well, I can say, at aframestokyo it still claims that they are made of horse hide.

And honestly, I personally have never felt a leather that is like this. But the word Cordovan means horse hide.
So it seems I was mistaken in using the word shell before it. As it is most likely hide and not the second layer under it

I think the way they process the hide is the key. Nothing else quite like it.